The Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres said earlier this year that the climate crisis is “a code red for humanity. The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable”. With that in mind there is no international meeting with greater importance than COP26, starting at the end of this month in Glasgow. Called by some the last best hope of tackling the crisis, this meeting of 195 countries needs all our prayers, voices and actions behind it. In this blog we will highlight those events happening in the diocese and in our local area as well as those events happening in Glasgow which are online, and ways you can get involved through Prayer.
Events in the Diocese
If you are organising an event or service around COP or the climate we would love to hear about it. Please get in touch with the Diocesan Environmental Officer Jack Edwards . If you are going to put anything up on social media remember to tag #EcoSouthwark and #makecopcount!
COP26 Prayer Vigil at Southwark Cathedral (23/11/21)
The Prayer Vigil will take place at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 23 October from 2:00pm to 3:45pm. This will be an opportunity to pray for COP26 and its success. The Rt Rev David Atkinson will be presiding. There are still places available, findout more. The vigil will also be livestreamed, starting at 3.10pm. Watch online here
St John’s Church Redhill Eco group
St John’s is inviting those unable to attend the Cathedral to join them on Saturday 23 October drom 2pm to 4pm as they watch the livestream from the Cathedral and pray for COP26. If you are interested, please email
St Mary’s Eco Church pop-up at St George The Martyr, SE11JA (01/11/21-06/11/21)
From Monday 1 to Saturday 6 November, St Mary’s Eco Church will be creating a
space for COP26 in London at St George The Martyr SE11JA. Take time out to pray at the various prayer stations, lament, reflect, contribute a vision of hope, and engage creatively. Each day has a different theme: for instance, bring an instrument on Monday. See the church website for more information.
Ring out for the Climate! (30/10/21)
Churches, chapels and cathedrals are being encouraged to ring their bells for 30 minutes from 6pm on Saturday 30 October, the eve of COP26, as a warning of the danger of the climate emergency. Find out more on Facebook
Events in London
Numerous organisations are planning events around COP. If you want us to advertise an event please email the environment team
The Global Day of Action (06/11/21)
The COP26 Coalition is made up of dozens of organisations including Tearfund and Christian Aid. They are organising a ‘Global Day of Action’ on Saturday the 6th of November. Concurrent with the civil society march in Glasgow there will be a network of small marches for those unable to be in Glasgow. In London and the surrounding area there will be a march from the Bank of England to Trafalgar Square. For more information please email or read Christian Aid’s briefing on attending.
Online events
These events will be broadcast from Glasgow or on the theme of the environment over the coming days. In light of the technical difficulties experienced by those who attempted to watch the ‘Nations Climate Sunday’ last month I would like to pre-emptively apologise for any poor internet connections!!
Couch to Carbon Zero starting Monday 1 November
A ten-day sprint to a lower carbon life! Sign up for a series of ten short videos which action the key things in our lives that shift the needle, while getting equipped and informed for the everyday choices that make a big difference. It doesn’t take much time and makes a big difference! Sign up here.
The Green Church Showcase Tuesday 2 November 17.00
A joint initiative from the Church Times and The Church of England. This will be an online showcase of a selection of short videos. These were submitted as part of a Church Times competition and will show how churches, schools and other religious communities are leading the way in practically responding to the climate crisis. This will include a talk by theologian Ruth Valerio and the lead Bishop for the environment Graham Usher. More details here
We Are Tearfund (WAT@COP26) Youth event Friday 5 November 19.30
Join online with your Youth Group to come together, following Jesus’ call to stand with our global neighbours and say it’s not fair that those contributing the least are impacted the most. With Magnitude Band and Benitho Onyemba, Pastor of Hillsong North London Campus. We believe change is possible. Join here
Tearfund COP Sunday Service Sunday 7 November
Tearfund have created a video service which is available either as a whole service or in parts to include in your own service. Join Pete Greig, Carol Ng’ang’a, and Celtic Worship in our powerful climate-themed church service on Sunday 7 November. Details here
Peoples Summit Sunday 7 November to Wednesday 10 November
A series of events organised by the COP26 Coalition ranging from ‘how to talk to children about the environment’ to ‘Sharing Untold Climate Stories: Extractivism, Climate Colonialism and Community Alternatives’. Find out more here
The Environment – the science every churchgoer should know Monday 8 November 19.30
Our own Bishop Richard in conversation with Dr Nicholas Heavens from the Space Science Institute at Boulder, Colorado. Book online here
The Time Is Now Monday 8 November 19.00
Live from Glasgow Cathedral join Christian Aid, the Young Christian Climate Network, The Kingdom Choir and Rowan Williams for music, prayer and inspiration to tackle the injustice of the climate crisis. You may remember that the Young Christian Climate Network walked a relay from Cornwall to Glasgow which passed through the diocese. Sign up for a free online ticket
Prayer events
As Christians we believe that one of the most important things we can do is pray. We entrust our worries and fears, our hopes and our dreams to our most loving creator God. Over this time of COP the diocese will be tweeting a daily prayer so that we may join together as a diocesan community in prayer. Environmental prayers, and those specifically around COP are available below.
Daily COP Prayer Briefing
Youth With A Mission will be running various prayer stations in Glasgow, welcoming the delegates from around the world and praying for the success of the meeting. They are also offering a daily prayer update responding to the meeting day by day through prayer. As we hear news reports of someone storming out or a disagreement that cannot be bridged, we will be able to respond through prayer. More details can be found here
Green Christian Prayer Resources
Green Christian also have a variety of prayer resources based around the COP and will be having a daily morning prayer service at 8AM over Zoom to reflect on what the day might hold. For more information
I end this Blog with a walking prayer created by Tearfund and Youth With A Mission. This video will take you to the location of the climate negotiations, allowing you to centre your prayers and reflect on the difficult negotiations which may be ahead. We trust that the delegates will be open to the movement of the Spirit working through them, that the smaller nations will be heard, and that the suffering already affecting the world’s poorest will be at the centre of global thinking.
